Lionel Messi Strengthens GOAT Stance With A Sixth Balon D’Or

Lionel Messi beat his closest rival, Virgil Van Dijk to win the Balon D’Or for a record sixth time. Megan Rapinoe who helped her side win the Women’s World Cup won the Women’s Best Player Award while Alisson Becker won the best goalkeeper’s Yachine Award.

Juventus centre-back, Matthijs de Ligt was also a winner at the event, picking up the best young player’s Kopa Award.

Lionel Messi became the first player to lift the award six times and is now one ahead of his eternal rival, Cristiano Ronaldo who has amassed a haul of five for himself.

Ronaldo, who didn’t appear for the event finished in third place after Liverpool’s Virgil Van Dijk and ahead of Sadio Mane in fourth place.

Speaking about the award handed to Messi, Van Dijk who some football fans think should have scooped the award said:

“It was an amazing year, but there’s a couple of players like that who are a bit unnatural,” said the Dutch defender in respect to Messi and Ronaldo.

He added: “So you need to respect greatness as well. I was close, but there was just someone a little bit better.

“I’m very proud of what I achieved last year with Liverpool and Holland, and hopefully we can do that again this year. But that will be tough with those guys around here still.”

Messi enjoyed a stellar season with Barcelona with the club winning the Laliga last term. The 32-year-old in spite of his incredible performances was alongside his teammates stunned by Valencia in the Copa America as well as by Liverpool in the semifinals of the Champions League.

2018 winner, Luka Modric presented the award to Messi whilst wearing a smiling countenance. The Madrid midfielder winning the award year ago brought up suggestions that he had ended the dominance of Messi and Ronaldo.

However, that suggestion has now proved premature as Messi picked up his sixth. In fact, Modric failed to make the top-30 nominations.

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